The 20,000 foot-long cable is under 130 feet of water and carries electricity to Washington Island from the Door County peninsula.

The power went out across the Island at 2:22 a.m. June 15 and was restored in three hours when the Washington Island Electric Cooperative's diesel engines were activated.

The location of the damage "is extremely close to the northwestern tip of Plum Island where for years we have seen ice shoves," according to a news release from the Washington Island Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Ice shoves are free-floating chunks or plates of ice that are pushed by the wind and water. They most often cause damage when driven ashore, but could also damage the underwater cable.

Although the Cooperative is capable of providing electricity to all the businesses and homes, consumers are being asked to conserve electricity when possible.

The repair or replacement of the cable depends on several things, including whether it can be repaired, weather and wind, the release said.

"This repair is only a temporary solution to our problems," the release said. It is likely the entire cable needs to be replaced which is estimated to cost around $2.5 million.

The Cooperative is working with contractors to evaluate the damage and repair the cable as soon as possible.The logistics are complicated because the cable is long and underwater. It was installed in 1981 and is more than 20,000 feet long while lying under 130 feet of water.